1. We have two (2) art teachers at the middle school, and we each see half (1/2) of the student population (325+/- students each), every three (3) cycle days. Plus, we teach WIN classes on Cycle Day 7.

2. We average about four (4) art projects a school year.

3. Students will receive an assortment of grades: Daily Artistic Thinking Process, Projects, Artsonia, Class Activities and a Portfolio Review. We encourage both students and parents to familiarize themselves with the different flags in PowerSchool (ex: Incomplete, Late, etc.).

4. Students average about 16 art classes per trimester, for a total of about 48 classes per year.

5. We are a cohesive department. Students will upload projects to Artsonia throughout the year, and get them back at the end of the year after the art show.

6. To stay involved in the arts, there are additional after-school opportunities like our NMS - NJAHS and the Yearbook Club.

We break your grade down into three categories.

• Projects - The projects you complete in class.

  • • Click here to view the criteria we use to evaluate projects.

• Daily Artistic Thinking Process (ATP)- Daily artistic thinking process. Please see the "Classroom Policies" page for more information about the Artistic Thinking Process.

  • • Click here to view the criteria we use to evaluate ATP.

• Class Activities - Assorted class activities.

  • • Grading criteria varies depending on the assignment/activity.

• Artsonia - This is your online, digital art portfolio where you will title your artwork and write an artist statement.

  • • Click here to view the criteria we use to evaluate Artsonia.

We utilize Artsonia here at the middle school. This allows for students to create a historical art portfolio that tracks their progression over different school years.

Students will upload photos of their finished projects and type up their artists statements here. Parents/Guardians can view student work, leave comments, and purchase unique items in the gift shop. 20% of all purchases go directly back to our department to help supplement supply purchases, projects and student learning experiences.

At the beginning of the school year, an email will be sent out to Parents/Guardians from Artsonia inviting them them set up an account. 

Student Login  

(Mrs. Hildebrandt's Class Portal Code: JMJZ - JYDR)

(Mrs. Ladue's Class Portal Code: FCSM-NTPF)

Parent/Fan Login

Be Creative

• Think on your feet, approach tasks from different perspectives, take creative risks, develop a sense of innovation, interweave ideas into new possibilities, practice creative thinking until it becomes natural, be original

Organize

• Concentrate and focus, keep a balance between listening and contributing, develop motor skills, think about their role and how it contributes to the big picture of what's being created

Social Responsibility

• Act responsibly with interests of the larger community in mind, understand choices that artists and designers make, know and appreciate diverse societies, interpret and evaluate others' perceptions of reality

Collaborate and Cooperate

• Work together, understand their actions affect choices, realize even small contributions have value, compromise for common goals, take responsibility for mistakes, share responsibility, realize their contribution is important to the success of the group

Self Direct

• Persevere, practice follow-through, improve academic performance, develop healthy work habits

Communicate

• Receive constructive feedback, communicate different emotions, develop language by talking about art and describing creations, realize feedback is a part of learning, improve skills through evaluation, develop visual communication skills, breakdown mechanics of body language, portray a character effectively, interpret visual information, experience different ways of moving

Technology Fluency

• Develop information and media literacy skills, create information in a variety of forms and media, utilize today's digital and social media as an appropriate vehicle for their message

Problem Solve

• Keep an open mind, have decision making skills, explore further info, entertain different possibilities, move forward to new insight and understanding, develop skills in reasoning and understanding, be attentive to details of perspective and ideas

As an incoming 8th grade student, you have the choice of 3 different art course offerings: General Art, 2D Studio Art and 3D Studio Art. 

7th grade students will be make their art course selection in their art classes in the Spring. Dates for the selection window are determined annually and may change. Please have your students listen for announcements in class. Students will get more information about the various offerings prior to their selection. If a student does not make a selection before the deadline, they will automatically be registered for the General Art course.

Please click here, to view the art course selection presentation. Note that the dates will change based on the school year and may not be current.

Newtown Middle School students have five (5) options for high school. Students will receive a variety of presentations from these schools during the school year. Two (2) of those schools are arts-based high schools, that students can apply to. Click on the links below to explore those schools.

ACES - Educational Center for Arts (New Haven, CT)

• They offer programs of study in: creative writing, dance, music, visual arts, and theater

RCA - Regional Center for the Arts (Trumbull, CT)

• They offer programs of study in: creative video, dance, music, musical theater, and theater